Process of smelting iron ore.



rno'CES soE SMEZTING 1301? can. a

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FLORENTINE J. Mao HALSKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plattsburg, Clinton county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Smelting Iron Ore, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a new and improved process of reducing iron ore and has for its objectto provide a process for pro ducing a high grade iron almost free from carbon, phosphorus, titanium, silicon and manganese, which shall be very ductile and contains substantially no occluded gases. The product also takes a high polish and resists oxidation.

My improved process is an improvement upon that set out in my application Serial No. 776,156 (Patent No. 1,099,709, dated June 9, 191i) and in carrying it out. I preferably use the electrode and furnace described in my applications, Serial Nos. 776,157 and 7 76,158, all filed on the 27th day of June, 1913 (Patents Nos. 1,099.558 and 1,099,559, dated June 9, 191i). Itis particularly useful in treating titaniferous iron ore such as found in the Adirondack region of the State of New York. In carrying out my process with this ore and the furnace and electrode above referred to, I introduce into the furnace a basic charge of ore, flux and artificial graphite, the flux being preferably calcium oxid in the form of burnt lime or unburnt lime. In making the charge I usesubstantially the theoretically required amount of carbon in the form of artificial graphite and enough calcium oxid to maintain the charge basic throughout all stages of the smelting process. The necessary calcium oxid can be introduced at the start or may be added from time to time,

care being taken that an excess amount of the basic, flax sufficient to maintain the charge basic,,is present at all stages. I havc found that where the basic flux is all to be introduced at the start, a satisfactory charge is obtained by using the following proportions: 100 parts of ore, 1% parts of artificial I graphite and 50 parts of unburnt lime. I have found that with these proportions the charge remains basic during the whole smeltingoperation. In treating this charge in the furnace referred to, the charge is subjected to an electric current and the ore is Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 1916i Application filed Kay 6, 1914. Serial No. 836.638.

forjenl trrsienngEistryq ib aaasiqaoafm aitnnrca n ION l EP TQSE E Y KQ BE I N reduced by being heated in: the presence of: the artificial graphite and the oxygen combines .therewith to form carbon monoxid in the ordinary manner. The titanium, manganese and silicon present combine with the excess basic flux so as to be eliminated and are removed in the form of slag. The molten metal is drawn ofi and cast into bars or ingots, or any other desired form and produces an improved product, which on cooling is crystalline in form. free from slag. and very ductile. It contains no occluded oxygen or nitrogen or other gas, resists oxidation and takes a high polish. It substantially pure slag-free ferrite, by which I mean. iron or steel containing no carbid (or only a trace) in solid solution.

By my improved reducing process. the manganese present in the ore is entirely eliminated in the finished product and only slight traces of titanium remain. The car bon in the product may be reduced to below 0025' the phosphorus to below 0.015% and the silicon to below 0.02"}. even when the phosphorus. titanium and manganese are unusually high in the ore.

The product described but not claimed herein is described and claimed in a division hereof. filed on the ith day of June, 191-1. Serial No. Sl'lSfil.

'hat I claim is:

1. The-improvement in the process of electrically reducing iron ore which comprises forming a basic charge composed of iron ore. graphite and a basic flux. subjecting this charge to an electric current and maintaining the charge basic during the entire reducing process. the graphite being substantially equal to the amount of carbon theoretically required.

2. The improvement in the process of electrically reducing iron ore which comprises forming a basic charge composed of iron ore containing titanium, and artificial graphite and a basic flux. subjecting this charge to an electric currentand maintaining the charge basic during the entire reducing process, the graphite being substantially equal to the amount of carbon theoretically required.

3. The process of electrically reducing iron ore which comprises forming a'basic charge composed of iron ore containing phosphorus. and artificial graphite and a basic flux, subjecting the same to an electric current and maintaining the charge basic 5. The improvement in-the process ofduring the entire reducing operation, the electrically reducing iron ore which -com- 15 graphite being substantially equal to the prisesforming a basic charge composed of amount of carbon theoretically required. 100 parts iron ore, 14 parts artificial graph '5 4. The improvement in the process of ite, and a basic flux, subjecting this charge electrically reducing iron ore,v which comto an electric current and mamtaining the prises forming a basic charge composed of charge basic during the entire reducing '20 iron ore containing manganese, and graphite process. and a lime flux, subjecting this charge to an .10 electric current, and maintaining the same FLOBENTINE'J; MAQHALSKE' basic during the entire reducing process, the Witnesses: I graphite being substantially equal to the A. A. BEAN,

amount of caron theoretically required. MARGARET Flrzm'rnicx. 

